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NDP: The Government Must Keep its Promise to Make Housing a Human Right

OTTAWA – In an open letter released on Tuesday, over 170 organizations and prominent Canadians urged the Prime Minister to follow through on his commitment to make housing a human right. The NDP is calling on the Liberal government to address the concerns in the open letter and make housing a right for all Canadians.

“When we have thousands of Canadians sleeping out in the cold, patchwork solutions will not solve the housing problem. We must work towards ending homelessness instead of continuing with the Liberals’ approach of managing the homeless population,” said NDP Housing Critic Sheri Benson. “Legally enshrining a right to housing would show that everyone deserves the right to security, good health, and safety in the form of adequate housing.”

Although Trudeau has previously spoken about the right to housing, last November the Liberals voted down an NDP Private Member’s Bill to legislate this right into Canadian law.

“The Liberals have dodged all efforts to make this an actual right in Canada. It’s time for the government to listen to the wide-spread support for enshrining a legal right to housing,” said NDP Deputy Housing Critic Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet. “Canadians are reeling from deeply unaffordable housing, and the government must make this an urgent priority.”